Acetylene-gas lamp.



No. 657,489. Patented' Sept. 4, |900. E. HOFFMANN. AcETYLENE GA's LAMP.

fApplication led Feb. 26, 1897.)

(No Mdel.)

t Wwesses'.

@iwi/V UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL HOFFMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ACETYLEN E-GAs LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,489, dated September 1900.

Appnmion ned February 26,1897, serial 110.625,123. (No moda.)

cago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented cerl tain new and useful Improvements in Lamps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to lamps that generate and burn acetylene gas. This gas, generated by applying Water to calcium carbid, is so eX- tremely volatile and penetrating that heretofore it has been difficult to control and regulate it.

The objects of my invention are to control the generation of the gas by regulating the supply of water to the calcic carbid,to regulate the pressure of the gas, and to make it assist in controlling the water-supply. This I accomplish by means of a valve in the bottom of the water-chamber, which is controlled by the pressure of the gas beneath it, and by a valve controlled by the pressure of the gas Vin the chamber from which the burner leads, whereby the tiow of gas from the generating-chamber is controlled, substantially as hereinafter fully described and as illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure lis a vertical central section through my invention'. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on dotted line 3 3, Fig. 1.

The case of my invention is cylindrical or other suitable shape and is divided into two sections A and B, one of which, B, forms a circumambient gas-chamber b for the ealcicf carbid receptacle C and screws up into the superimposed section A. Section A contains a water-chamber D in its lower part, into which water can be introduced through a suitably-covered inlet a, projecting from the side of the case, and contains a gas-chamber E, which is separated therefrom by suitable partitions, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The bottom c of the water-,receptacle consists of a plate which closes the lower end of sectionA and is provided near its outer edge with an annular downwardly-extending flange b', the outer circumference of which is threaded, so as to receive the upper intesection B, which latter thus comes between the lower edges of section A and flange IJ, and by pressing up against a suitable rubber packing-ring a makes a gas-chamber b perfectly air-tight. The center of bottom cis provided with a countersunk opening d therethrough, lwhich is closed on its upward movement by a valve carried on the lower end of a valvestem c, and said bottom is provided with concentric upwardly-projecting and downwardly-projecting annular flanges or walls c' and f, respectively,preferably of a corresponding diameter andconsiderablyless than the diameter of iiange b.

The calcio-carbid chamber C is preferably cylindrical and of a less diameter and depth than section B, so as to provide the circumambient gas-chamber b, and its lower end is closed by a removable bottom F, the center of which is provided with a suitable perforation F2. The upper end of chamber C is provided with a neck m, consisting of a short tubular stub projecting up centrally therefrom, which is of such diameter as to permit it to be inserted and tightly fittedin or onto the annular flanges f of the bottom c of the water-chamber.

The valve-stem e extends centrally upward, and its upper end, above the collar e thereof, enters the compression-drum G. This coinpression-drum G is suspended centrally in the water-chamber between the upper end of said valve-stem e, upon the-collar c' of which riorly-threaded thickened edges of the lower its lower head rests, and a stud g, depending centrally downward from the transverse partition h, forming the top of the water-chamber. The lower end of this stud g enters the upper head of drum G, and it has a collar g', that bears against said upper head. Now the heads of drum G are made of thin elastic sheet-steel, and so when the pressure of gas in the water-chamber is sufficient the heads IOO y valve-stem e.

, vided with an inverted conical-shaped valvehead M, which cornes within the neck m of 4 the calcic-carbid chamber and the 'screwthreaded shank of which is tapped longitudinally and centrally into the lower end of;

The inverted base of this conical valve-head isd provided with a suitablev leather washer and practically constitutes the valve for closing the opening communicating with the water-chamber and 'carbid-'chamber. By screwing or uuscrewing this head M' l the reciprocal movement 'of the valve is vregu*- lated as desired. l

Ordinarily the gaspressure is such that the valve-stem e moves up and 'down, aecording to the variations from the normal pressure, which is determined by the elasticity of the heads of the'compressible drum and the stroke of the Valve-stem and permits just 'water enough to enter the carbid-'chamber from the water-chamber to maintain agiven genera-- tion and pressure of gas all the time. y The gas generated in the carbid-'chamberfin lorder to find egress therefrom has to force its Way down through `the body ef calci'c' carbid, which dries the-gas which issues from the perforations F2 int-o the circumambient gas-chamber b, and thus the surcharging'of the gas with moisture, as is usually the case, is 'avoided From the chamber b 'the gas passes through a vertical pipe z', extend-ing from the bottom c up through the water-cham ber into an antechamber I, made by transverse partitions 'x' in the part of the section Aof the ease above the waterfchamber. In the lowerlnost of these partitions m and'in an intermediate partition '1L/(which can be dispensed with, if desired) and in the partition .constituting the top of the water-chamber I provide small holes 1,2, and 3, do'w'n lthrough whichl the water accidentali-y forced up into 'chamber I or resulting from the condensation lof heated gas therein 'can drain back inte the water-1 chamber and Adow-n through Whih the grits in'ds'egre'ss to the water 'chamber te #operate thecompressible drum and valve conneeted therewith. In the uppermest partition fr, in-

closing the 'antechaniber I, preferably ner'er 1 one side, is a discharge-opening vt, the flew of gas fout through whieh into the storage or supply-chamber E?, occupying the tep portion of section A, is controlled by a valve K.

Valve K is suitably secured te the end ef la lever J, which is fu-lcrum'ed at about its center of length and the end of which 'opposite said valve K terminates about the center of ythe lamp. This end of lever J opposite the valve is connected by a vertical rod o to a drum N, which is suspended 4in position between the upper end of said rod `o and the le'wer end 'of l a hanger p, depending centrally in alin'einent therewith from the center of the top ofthe case. Drum N is` constructed and operates identicall7 likedrum G, except as to dimensions. Thus when the pressure of the outlowing gas in chamber E is at or below normal the natural expansion of the drum depresses the centrally-terminating end of lever J and raises thevalve K, and when the presl Ywhich extends down into the water-chamber,

where it is bent laterally and is connected to the nipple r, to which the burner P is attached. This 'pipe M may, however, be dispensed with and the burner be connected directly to and lead from chamber E. Y

I VThee'perrt'tion of my invention'is as follows The'c'ock in the burner being turned and the gas ilowi'ng' therefrom ignited, the ygas is prim-arily rarefied in chamber E. This causes 'valve K to open and relieves the chamber, and thus leaves drum Gr free toexpand and 'rn'eve the valve-'sterne downward and permits the Water to flow through openings 7c 7c in the Wall c,'surrounding the lower end of the valve, and through .epening d, around t-he lower end of the stem if the valve, into the carbid-chamber to lcause further generation of the gas,

, se lengas their construction `and arrangement ef the different elements and features accom- 'plifsh the saine results, as hereinbefore deseribed, I consider them as coming within lthe spirit fof iny invention.

What I claim as new i's-A l. ln an acetylene-lamp a v'calcio-"carbid chamber 'and-a valve-controlled superimposed water-chamber, of anantechamber having a perforate bottom through which communication can be had to the water-"chamber to allow access of gas to said Water-chamber, supplychamber provided with an |`opening whereby cemmunication can be had with said antechamber, a lvalve-contrpolled burner leading freni 'said supply-cha mb'er, and a valve controlling the eonrnnni-cating opening between said anteeh'amber and supplychamber, as and for the plrpese set forth.

In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with a gas -gene'r'ting chamber, and a superimposed water-chamber communicating therewith, of fa supply chamber arranged abeve 'said water-chamber andan antechamber interposed between said supply and water chambers having valved connections with said supply-chamber and having also connectiens with the wateran'd generating chambers,

IOO

IZO

vfise pressure therefrom, and which has an opening in its bottom communicating with said generating-chamber, a valve controlling said opening, a compressible drum suspended in said water-chamber to which said valve is connected, said drum being exposed to the gas-pressure from all sides, a supply-chamber above said water-chamber connected by suitable passages with said generating-chamber, and a valve controlling the ingress of gas from the generating-chamberinto the supplychamber. Y

Y 4. In an acetylene-lamp, a gas-generating chamber7 in combination with a superimposed water-chamber to which said gas-generating chamber is removably secured, which is open to the gas-pressure therefrom and whichV has an opening in its bottom communicating with said generating-chamber, a valve controlling said opening, a compressible drum suspended in said water-chamber to which said valve is connected, an antechamber immediately above said water-chamber connected by suitable passages with said generatingchamber, a supply-chamber above said antechamber, and a valve controlling the ingress of gas from the antechamber into the supplychamber.

5. In an acetylene-lamp, a calcio-carbid receptacle provided with a short tubular neck and with suitable perforations for the escape of gas, and a lower section of the shell of the lamp within which said receptacle is placed in such manner as to leave a gas-circulating chamberbetween the two,in combination with a superimposed water-chamber to which said lower section is removably secured, which has an opening in its bottom provided with downwardly-projecting annular iianges to which said calcio-carbid receptacle is connected by means of its said neck, and which is open to the gas-pressure from said lower section, a valve controlling said opening,a oompressible drum suspended in said waterchamber, to which said valve is connected by suitable passages with said lower section, and a valve controllingthe ingress of gas from the generating-chamber.

6. In an acetylene-lamp, a calcio-carbid receptacle provided with a short tubular neck and with suitable perforations for the escape of gas, and a lower section of the shell of the v said lower section is removably secured, which has an opening in its bottom provided with .downwardly-projecting annular flanges to which said calcio-carbid receptacle is connected by means of its said neck, and which is open to the gas-pressure from said section, a valve controlling said opening, a compressible drum suspended in said water-chamber to which said valve is connected, an antechamber connected by suitable passages with said circulating-chamber in the lower shell, a supply-chamber above said antechamber, and a valve controlling the ingress of gas from the antechamber into the supply-chamber.

7. In an acetylene-lam p, a calcio-carbid l'eceptacle provided with a short tubular neck and with suitable perforations for the escape of'gas, and a lower section of the shell of the lamp within which said receptacle is placed in such manner as to leave a gas-circulating chamber between the two, Vin combination with a superimposed water-chamber to which said lower section is removably secured and which has an opening in its bottom provided with downwardly-projecting annular flanges to which said calcio-carbid receptacle is connected by means of its said neck and which is open to the gas-pressure from said lower section, a valve controlling said opening and a burner, as and for the pupose set forth.

8. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with a gas-generating chamber and a superimposed water-chamber having an opening in its bottom communicating with the said generating-chamber, of a pressure-controlled device located in the water-chamber, a valvestem connected thereto and extending into Witnesses:

RANDOLPH A. PIKE, FRANK D. THoMAsoN. 

